Insert driver device

ABSTRACT

A device for automatically applying inserts into wood, plastic, aluminum or other relatively soft material, comprising a motor driving a rod threaded at its outer end to receive an insert, the rod extending through a hollow member against the end of which an end of the insert is adapted to abut, frictionally to lock the rod and the hollow member together, means being provided to permit simultaneous rotation of the rod and the hollow member when the insert is being applied, and to restrain rotation of the hollow member when the rod is reversed for removal from the insert.

United States Patent [151 3,694,888 Bosse [451 Oct. 3, 1972 [54] INSERTDRIVER DEVICE 3,333,613 8/1967 Bosse 10/155 R X [72] Inventor: IlfloyertW. Bosse, Englewood Cliffs, Primary Examiner Andrew R- Juhasz AssistantExaminer-Gary L. Smith [73] Assignee: Groov-Pin Corporation, Ridgefield,Attorney-Arthur B. Colvin NJ. 22 Filed: Oct. 22, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT [2|]Appl. No.: 82,999

A device for automatically applying inserts into wood, plastic, aluminumor other relatively soft material, comprising a motor driving a rodthreaded at its outer s2 U.S. Cl 49/240, l/l55 R, 144/32 end to receivean insert, the rod extending through 5| Int. Cl. ..B23p 19/06 hollowmember against the and Ofwhich an end of the [58] Field 0' Search 55 R,155 A; 29,20 D, insert is adapted to abut, frictionally to lock the rod29/240. 144/32 and the hollow member together, means being provided topermit simultaneous rotation of the rod and the hollow member when theinsert is being applied, [56] References Cited and to restrain rotationof the hollow member when UNITED STATES PATENTS the rod is reversed forremoval from the insert.

3,245,] 37 4/ l 966 Neuschotz ..29/240 10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 257"l l t fl t, F l 1 M b 9 I /2 52 W /s l 5 l T l a I fl h l it 2-4 A w l yPATENTEDUCTB Im SHEEI 2 BF 2 INSERT DRIVER DEVICE This invention relatesto an insert driver device, and more particularly to a device forautomatically applying inserts into wood, plastic, aluminum or otherrelatively soft material.

As is well known, an insert generally comprises an annular metallicmember of steel for example, having internal and external threads. Whereit is desired to thread a bolt or screw into a workpiece of relativelysoft material, it is known practice to first thread a metallic insertinto an aperture formed therein so that the insert will receive thescrew, rather than threading the screw into the material itself, thusavoiding the necessity for stressing the threaded portions of therelatively soft workpiece and avoiding the likelihood of stripping suchthreads.

Where a tool, such as a rod having a threaded end on which the insert ispositioned, is used to drive the insert into the workpiece and the rodis rotated in reverse direction for removal from the workpiece, if thereverse torque applied by the rod to the insert is greater than thefrictional hold of the material of the workpiece on the insert, theinsert will also be withdrawn from the work.

It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide a devicefor automatically driving inserts of the type described, into aworkpiece with assurance that the device may be removed from the insertafter it is fully driven without withdrawal of the insert from theworkpiece.

Another object is to provide a device of the above type which dependablyrestrains the rotation of the insert while the member that initiallydrove the insert into the workpiece is being removed from the insert.

According to the invention these objects are accomplished by thearrangement and combination of elements hereinafter described and moreparticularly recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one of various possibleembodiments of the several features of the invention;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic insert driver assembly,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 22 ofFIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2,and

FIG. 4 is a schematic circuit of the control system for the driverassembly.

Referring now to the drawing, as shown in FIG. 1 the insert driverdevice comprises a support base to which is fixedly mounted a supportmember 11 carrying a swivel post 12. Pivotally mounted on post 12 bymeans ofa hub 13 is an upwardly inclined extension leg 14 which may bemoved in a horizontal plane. The leg 14 mounts a vertical boss 15 at itsfree end, which has an interior bushing within which is rotatablymounted a vertically directed support arm 16 of a frame 17 generally inthe form ofa pantograph.

The pantograph frame is defined, in addition to the arm 16, by parallelspaced reach arms 18, 19, pivotally connected to the arm 16 at spacedpoints 20, 21. A motor support arm 22 is provided with pivotalconnections 23, 24 spaced apart to correspond with the spac ing ofpivots 20, 21, the arm 18 being connected to the pivot 23 and the arm 19to the pivot 24.

As will be readily understood, the frame 17 may be articulated upwardlyand downwardly, and in all articulated positions, the motor support arm22 will remain parallel to the arm 16.

A counterbalance spring 25 is tensioned between the reach arms 18 and19, the spring 25 being directed downwardly and forwardly, serving tocounterbalance the weight of the motor assembly, next to be described,which is carried on the motor support art 21.

Optionally, but preferably, the spring 25 at its opposite ends, isconnected to adjustable collars 25a, 25b, respectively, which collarsmay he slid longitudinally of the reach anns l8, 19, thus, to supply avariable counterbalancing force. Lock means, not shown, may be employedto fix the collars 25a, 25b, at any desired position along the reacharms.

A driver motor assembly 30 is carried by the motor support arm 22adjacent the lower end 31 thereof.

The assembly 30 includes a bracket arm 32 secured to the lower end ofarm 22 and extending laterally outward therefrom. The outer end ofbracket arm 32 is secured to the casing of a drive motor M to supportthe latter in vertical position. Preferably, the motor M is of thereversible, air driven type, such as the motor manufactured by theIngersoll-Rand Corporation. The operation of the air motor M forms nopart of the present invention and it is to be understood that anysuitable air motor, hydraulic motor or electric motor could be usedwhich are reversible in their operation.

As is clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower cylindrical end 33 ofthe motor M is positioned so as to seat on the annular shoulder 34 of ahollow coupling member 35, the end 33 being secured in place by setscrews 36.

The lower end 37 of coupling member 35 is internally threaded as at 38adjustably to mount a driver tool 39.

As shown in FIG. 2, the driver tool 39 comprises an outer casing 41preferably having a cylindrical body portion, the upper end of which isexternally threaded so that it may coact with the internally threadedportion 38 of coupling member 35.

The lower end of casing 41 mounts a nipple 42 having a bore 43 ofsmaller diameter than the bore 44 of casing 41 and axially alignedtherewith.

Positioned in bore 44 is a cup-shaped driven member 45 having acylindrical outer surface 46 and a reduced diameter stem 47 extendingaxially therefrom.

Encompassing the cylindrical body portion 46 of driven member 45 is aclutch and bearing assembly 51 illustratively of the type sold by theTorrington Com pany.

The assembly 51 comprises a cylindrical casing 52 which is secured bypress fit into the bore 44, seating on an annular shoulder 53 formed insaid bore near its lower end. The casing 52 contains a ring of rollersdefining a clutch S4 and a pair of rings of roller bearings 55 whichstraddle the clutch 54.

As shown in FIG. 2, the motor M has a shaft 57 which extends into thebore 58 of a stud 59 extending axially in bore 44 of casing 41, theshaft 57 being locked in said bore 58 by a key 61 secured by set screw62.

The stud 59 has a shank portion 63 which is of reduced diameter andwhich extends into the bore portion 64 ofdriver member 45.

Means are provided releasably to lock the shank 63 in bore 64. To thisend, as illustratively shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shank 63 has a bore65 extending diametrically therethrough which accommodates a coil spring66, the ends of which react respectively against balls 67 to urge thelatter partially into an annular groove 68 formed in the inner surfaceof the bore 64.

The shank 63 has an axial bore 71 which is internally threaded toreceive the correspondingly threaded end of a drive rod 72, the latterbeing locked in position by a lock nut 73. A thrust bearing 74 isdesirably provided between the lock nut 73 and the annular shoulder 75formed in driven member 45.

The drive rod 72 extends through the bore 76 of stem 47, and protrudesoutwardly beyond the end 77 of said stem, as at 78, said protrudingportion being threaded to receive an insert l as shown.

Mounted on the nipple 42 is a microswitch 81 which has a verticallydirected plunger 82 designed to engage the top surface S of theworkpiece W into which the insert l is to be driven, Actuation of themicroswitch 81 will cause reversal of the air motor M in the mannerhereinafter to be described.

in addition, a microswitch 85 is mounted on the motor support arm 22,being secured thereto in such position adjacent the upper reach arm 18that the plunger 86 of the microswitch will engage the arm 18 uponupward movement of the arm 22 to a predetermined height. The actuationof the microswitch 85 will cause reversal of the air motor M to restorethe latter to insert driving condition.

Although any suitable circuit may be utilized to effect the desiredoperation of the equipment, as illustratively shown in PK]. 4, areversible air valve 90 is provided having control ports 91, 92connected to the air motor M. The valve 90 has an outlet port 93 and apressure port 94 connected through normally closed valve 95 to a sourceof gas under pressure. The solenoid 96 controlling valve 95 is connectedto ground and through normally open switch 97 to a source of positivepotential.

The valve 90 is normally spring urged to connect its ports 91, 94 and92, 93 which is the drive position of the valve. The solenoid 98controlling valve 90 is connected to ground and to the contact arm 99 ofrelay 101, the contact arm 99 normally being spaced from fixed contact102 connected to positive potential.

The microswitch 81 has a contact arm 103, controlled by plunger 82,which is connected to positive potential and to contact arm 104 of relay101. Contact arm 103 is normally spaced from fixed contact 105 connectedto one end of the coil 106 of relay 101 and to the contact arm 107 ofmicroswitch 85 controlled by plunger 86 and normally engaging fixedcontact 108, the latter being connected to fixed contact 109 of relay101.

In the operation of the equipment above described, when switch 97 isclosed, the solenoid 96 will be energized to open valve 95 so that gasunder pressure will flow through valve 90 to energize motor M to rotatethe drive shaft 57 in drive direction. As a result stud 59 and drive rod72 secured to the shank portion 63 thereof will also rotate.

The operator then positions an insert on the threaded end 78 of the rod72 which is rotating clockwise or in insert driving direction. Theinsert I will ride up the threaded end 78 until the upper end of theinsert abuts against the lower end 77 of the stem 47 of the drivenmember 45. As a result of the frictional engagement of the end 90' ofthe insert l and the end 77 of stem 47, the driven member 45 will nowrotate in a clockwise direction.

The clutch 54 is so positioned that the cylindrical portion 46 of thedriven member 45 will not be restrained by the clutch so that the drivenmember 45 will rotate relative to the casing 41 with rotation of driverod 72.

The operator will thereupon lower the insert into an aperture A in aworkpiece W. This is accomplished, referring to FIG. 1, by the operatormerely aligning the insert with the aperture A and pushing downwardly onthe motor M.

The insert I will be progressively driven into the material of theworkpiece W by the rotating drive rod 72 until the free end of plunger82 engages the upper surface of the workpiece. lnward movement of theplunger 82 will cause contacts 103, to engage completing a circuit torelay 101 so that the latter will be energized closing its contacts 99,102 and 104, 109.

Closing of contacts 99, 102 will cause solenoid 98 to be energizedthereby actuating valve 90 to connect ports 94, 92 and 91, 93 to reversethe direction of rotation of motor M.

As a result, the drive shaft 57 of motor M and the drive rod 72 willrotate in a counterclockwise direction.

The plunger 82 is so positioned with respect to the top of the workpieceW that the air motor M will be reversed as soon as the top 90 of theinsert is flush with or slightly below the top surface of the workpiece.

Adjustment of the position of plunger 82 is readily accomplished byrotation of the casing 4i in coupling member 37, which causeslongitudinal movement of the casing with respect to the driven member45.

As soon as motor M is reversed so that the shaft 57 thereof and driverod 72 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, due to the frictionalengagement of end 77 of stem 47 of driven member 45 and the top 90 ofinsert l, the driven member 45 would also tend to rotate in acounterclockwise direction. If such rotation of the driven member didoccur, due to the frictional engagement of end 77 of the stem 47 and thetop 90' of the insert, the insert would tend to unscrew from theaperture A in the workpiece W and only the frictional engagement of theinsert l in aperture A would hold it in place. However, where theworkpiece is of relatively soft material such as aluminum, for example,the frictional engagement is relatively small and unscrewing of theinsert would occur.

However, by reason of the one-way clutch 54, as soon as the drivenmember 45 starts to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, the clutch54 will lock the cylindrical portion 46 of driven member with respect tothe casing 41 so that no relative rotation will occur between the casingand the driven member 45.

Consequently, the upper end 90 of the insert I will remain locked infrictional engagement with the lower end 77 of stem 47 so that only thedrive rod 72 will rotate in a counterclockwise direction. As a result,the threaded end 78 of the drive rod 72 will completely withdraw fromthe threaded bore of the insert with sub stantially no withdrawingtorque being applied to the insert.

When the threaded end 78 of the drive rod 72 is completely withdrawnfrom the insert, at such time the driver tool will be completelyseparated from the insert and the plunger 82 of microswitch 81 will befully extended.

Although the contacts 103, 105 of microswitch 81 will open, due to theholding contacts 104, 109, relay 101 will remain energized so that itscontacts 99, 102 will remain closed. As a result, valve 90 will remainin reversing position and the motor M will still rotate in reversecondition until the operator lifts the motor support arm 22 sufficientlyso that the plunger 86 of microswitch 85 engages reach arm 18 whichopens the holding circuit of relay 101.

If not for the provision of such holding circuit, the motor M mightreverse before the threaded end 78 of the drive rod 72 was completelyclear of the insert so that complete separation of the driver tool fromthe insert could not be achieved.

With the equipment above described, an insert may be dependably driveninto an aperture in a workpiece of even relatively soft material withassurance that upon rotation of the drive rod of the driver tool toremove it from the insert, no withdrawing torque will be applied to theinsert which could cause it to emerge from the workpiece.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A quick release driver tool for the application of a self-tappingscrew mounting insert into an untapped bore in soft material, said toolcomprising an outer casing, a driven member positioned in said casingand having a cylindrical portion with a stem extending axiallytherefrom, means coacting with the cylindrical portion of said drivenmember and the adjacent inner portion of said casing to permit freerotation of said driven member in one direction and restraining rotationthereof in the opposite direction, said driven member having an axialbore therethrough, a drive rod extending axially through the bore ofsaid driven member and rotatably mounted therein, said drive rod havinga threaded portion at its free end protruding beyond the end of the stemof said driven member, and means alternately to rotate said drive rod inopposite directions, whereby one end of an insert mounted on thethreaded end of said drive rod will engage the end of said stem uponrotation of said drive rod in one direction to drive said insert intothe workpiece while effecting tight frictional engagement between thesaid end of the insert and the end of said stem for free rotation ofsaid driven member and upon rotation of said drive rod in the oppositedirection for release of the threaded end thereof from the insert, saiddriven member will be restrained from rotation thereby restraining saidinsert from rotation.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the means coacting withthe cylindrical portion of said driven member comprises an annularoneway clutch having its outer periphery secured to the inner wallsurface of said casing and its inner periphery engaging said cylindricalportion.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which a pair of annularbearings are positioned in said casing straddling said oneway clutch.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the bore of said drivenmember is of enlarged diameter at its inner end, a drive stud positionedin said casing has a shank positioned in the enlarged diameter portionof said bore, means to retain said shank in said bore while permittingrelative rotation therebetween, the inner end of said drive rod beingoperatively connected to said shank and extending axially therefrom, andthe means alternately to rotate said drive rod in opposite directions isoperatively connected to said drive stud.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which said shank has atransverse bore therethrough, a pair of balls are positioned in saidbore adjacent the ends thereof, resilient means in said bore reactingagainst said balls to urge them outwardly, the bore of said drivenmember having an annular groove in its wall partially to receive saidballs to lock said shank to said driven member.

6. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which said shank has athreaded axial bore and the inner end of said drive rod is externallythreaded and screwed into said bore.

7. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which a reversible drivemotor is mounted on one end of said casing, said motor having a driveshaft extending into said casing, said drive stud having an axial borein its inner end to accommodate said drive shaft and means to lock saiddrive shaft to said stud.

8. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which depth sensing member ismounted on said casing adjacent the end thereof from which the stern ofsaid driven member extends, and means controlled by said depth sensingmember to reverse the direction of rotation of said drive rod when theinsert has been driven thereby into the workpiece a predeterminedamount.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 in which means are provided toadjust the vertical position of said depth sensing member with respectto said stem.

10. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which the casing isexternally threaded at one end, a coupling member having a boretherethrough internally threaded at one end is screwed on the threadedend of said casing, a reversible drive motor is mounted in the outer endof said coupling bore and secured to said coupling, said motor having adrive shaft extending through said coupling into said casing, said drivestud having an axial bore in its inner end to accommodate said driveshaft, means to lock said drive shaft to said stud, a depth sensingmember mounted on said casing adjacent the end thereof from which thestern of said driven member extends, means controlled by said depthsensing member to reverse the direction of rotation of said drive shaftwhen the insert has been driven by said drive rod into the workpiece apredetermined amount.

i 1R i i i

1. A quick release driver tool for the application of a selftappingscrew mounting insert into an untapped bore in soft material, said toolcomprising an outer casing, a driven member positioned in said casingand having a cylindrical portion with a stem extending axiallytherefrom, means coacting with the cylindrical portion of said drivenmember and the adjacent inner portioN of said casing to permit freerotation of said driven member in one direction and restraining rotationthereof in the opposite direction, said driven member having an axialbore therethrough, a drive rod extending axially through the bore ofsaid driven member and rotatably mounted therein, said drive rod havinga threaded portion at its free end protruding beyond the end of the stemof said driven member, and means alternately to rotate said drive rod inopposite directions, whereby one end of an insert mounted on thethreaded end of said drive rod will engage the end of said stem uponrotation of said drive rod in one direction to drive said insert intothe workpiece while effecting tight frictional engagement between thesaid end of the insert and the end of said stem for free rotation ofsaid driven member and upon rotation of said drive rod in the oppositedirection for release of the threaded end thereof from the insert, saiddriven member will be restrained from rotation thereby restraining saidinsert from rotation.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in whichthe means coacting with the cylindrical portion of said driven membercomprises an annular oneway clutch having its outer periphery secured tothe inner wall surface of said casing and its inner periphery engagingsaid cylindrical portion.
 3. The combination set forth in claim 2 inwhich a pair of annular bearings are positioned in said casingstraddling said oneway clutch.
 4. The combination set forth in claim 1in which the bore of said driven member is of enlarged diameter at itsinner end, a drive stud positioned in said casing has a shank positionedin the enlarged diameter portion of said bore, means to retain saidshank in said bore while permitting relative rotation therebetween, theinner end of said drive rod being operatively connected to said shankand extending axially therefrom, and the means alternately to rotatesaid drive rod in opposite directions is operatively connected to saiddrive stud.
 5. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which said shankhas a transverse bore therethrough, a pair of balls are positioned insaid bore adjacent the ends thereof, resilient means in said borereacting against said balls to urge them outwardly, the bore of saiddriven member having an annular groove in its wall partially to receivesaid balls to lock said shank to said driven member.
 6. The combinationset forth in claim 4 in which said shank has a threaded axial bore andthe inner end of said drive rod is externally threaded and screwed intosaid bore.
 7. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which a reversibledrive motor is mounted on one end of said casing, said motor having adrive shaft extending into said casing, said drive stud having an axialbore in its inner end to accommodate said drive shaft and means to locksaid drive shaft to said stud.
 8. The combination set forth in claim 1in which depth sensing member is mounted on said casing adjacent the endthereof from which the stem of said driven member extends, and meanscontrolled by said depth sensing member to reverse the direction ofrotation of said drive rod when the insert has been driven thereby intothe workpiece a predetermined amount.
 9. The combination set forth inclaim 8 in which means are provided to adjust the vertical position ofsaid depth sensing member with respect to said stem.
 10. The combinationset forth in claim 4 in which the casing is externally threaded at oneend, a coupling member having a bore therethrough internally threaded atone end is screwed on the threaded end of said casing, a reversibledrive motor is mounted in the outer end of said coupling bore andsecured to said coupling, said motor having a drive shaft extendingthrough said coupling into said casing, said drive stud having an axialbore in its inner end to accommodate said drive shaft, means to locksaid drive shaft to said stud, a depth sensing member mounted on saidcasing adjacent the end thereof from which thE stem of said drivenmember extends, means controlled by said depth sensing member to reversethe direction of rotation of said drive shaft when the insert has beendriven by said drive rod into the workpiece a predetermined amount.